Air purification system and method for maintaining nitrogen and oxygen ratios with regenerative purification units

ABSTRACT

The invention teaches a purification system which uses a series of operations, in a single unit, to purify air, while extending the life of the purification units. Air is passed through a coarse water trap to remove liquid. The semi-dry air, which is usually less than 3000 ppm of water vapor, is then passed through adsorbers, which remove the remaining moisture and all the carbon dioxide in a purification process. The drying of the air before passing it through the adsorbers allows for greatly improved efficiency of air purification and extends the life of both the oxygen catalyst and the adsorption columns. The present invention also flows the air to be purified through adsorption columns twice, before and after passing the air through an oxygen catalyst unit. The oxidizing catalyst, which is heated to a temperature of approximately 300 degrees centigrade, converts carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to H 2 O and CO 2  The newly converted H 2 O and CO 2  are then removed by the second pass through a second adsorption column in the second flow direction or downstream. The flows of air are then rotated with a third column, which is thermally regenerating with the facilitation of a regeneration air supply from the purified air.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY TO RELATED DOCUMENTS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/335,193 filed Oct. 31, 2001, entitled AIRPURIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAINTAINING NITROGEN AND OXYGENRATIOS WITH REGENERATIVE PURIFICATION UNITS (Rabellino, et. al), whichis herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to air purification systems withregenerative purification filters in which the output air has asubstantially similar ratio of normal nitrogen and oxygen air purifiedto 1 part per billion of impurity, in which the gases are not separatedand recombined.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Purified air is needed for a variety of applications, such aszero setting for analyzers, oxidizer gas for analyzers, and dilution airfor emissions analysis. Increasingly lower standards for the quality of“normal” air requires improved quality “zero,” oxidizer, and dilutionair.

[0004]FIG. 1 is a depiction of a generic description of prior art airpurification. Purified air is currently available mainly in limitedquantity in bottled gas form from companies that supply both pure oxygenand nitrogen as well. The process of purifying air, as opposed topurifying a single type of gas, is usually far more expensive and energyintensive because the air has to be broken down into the gas componentsof Nitrogen and Oxygen, each gas separately purified, and thenrecombined in the bottle gas form. Such a system is depicted in priorart FIG. 2 and creates a high energy and monetary cost for purified air.FIG. 3 represents prior art method pressure swing adsorption and will bedetailed below. FIG. 4 represents the membrane filter method, and isalso well known to those skilled in the art. Both of the methodsdepicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 can severely affect the nitrogen and oxygenratios of purified air resulting in unusable purified air for thepurposes mentioned above.

[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,022 to Deng, et. al. andassigned to BOC of Murray Hill, N.J., and incorporated herein byreference, teaches a way to regenerate the alumina thermal purificationunits by keeping them 180 degrees in phase. However, this system islimited because it only teaches how to remove carbon dioxide from air.This system also teaches the pressure swing adsorption method ofimpurity remove (herein PSA). As stated above, PSA has the drawback thatthe more aggressively the carbon dioxide is removed from the air to bepurified, the more the air is at risk for a significant reduction inNitrogen levels. The reduction in Nitrogen levels changes the Nitrogento Oxygen ratio and makes the resulting purified air less suitable forthe uses of calibration, analysis, and dilution. The details of theactual PSA method are well known to those skilled in the are of gaspurification and do not need to be detailed here.

[0006] What is needed is a system in which purified air is created fromnormal air without the cost and energy expense of breaking the air intoits component gases. What is also needed is an air purification systemin which the oxygen and nitrogen ratios are maintained in order toprovide purified air which is usable for calibration and other purposes.

[0007] Furthermore, it is desirable and cost effective to have such apurification system in which the purification units or adsorbers canregenerate themselves automatically, eliminating the need to replace thepurification units.

[0008] Additionally, it is desirable to have an ability to regeneratethe adsorption units without having to remove the units to permit theuninterrupted operation of the air purifiers. Finally, it is desirableto treat the air before purification, such that the purification isperformed more efficiently and the life of the adsorption units and theoxygen catalyst units are extended.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention provides the ability of a single unit toprovide a purified air supply, where the ratio of N₂ to O₂ is unaltered,where the presence of H₂, sulfur containing compounds, water, carbondioxide THC and NOX are removed to a concentration below 1 part perbillion.

[0010] The purification system of the present invention uses a series ofoperations, in a single unit, to purify air. Air can be supplied fromeither the facility or an on-board oilless compressor. The compressedair is passed through a coarse water trap to remove liquid. The semi-dryair, which is usually less than 3000 ppm of water vapor, is then passedthrough adsorbers, which remove the remaining moisture and all thecarbon dioxide in a purification process. The drying of the air beforepassing it through the adsorbers allows for greatly improved efficiencyof air purification and extends the life of both the oxygen catalyst andthe adsorption columns.

[0011] The present invention also flows the air to be purified throughadsorption columns twice, before and after passing the air through anoxygen catalyst unit. The double adsorption process is generallydescribed in a preferred embodiment as being in two different “flowdirections,” or “upstream” and “downstream” respectively. The oxidizingcatalyst, which is heated to a temperature of approximately 300 degreescentigrade, converts carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to H₂O and CO₂ Thenewly converted H₂O and CO₂ are then removed by the second pass througha second adsorption column in the second flow direction or downstream.The invention uses an adsorption column, which operates in an upstreammanner in order to remove moisture and carbon dioxide, but alsosignificantly improves the life of the oxidizing catalyst, and anadsorption column that removes further CO₂, water and NOX when purifyingin a downstream function.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention teaches thermal regenerationof adsorption units in a rotating fashion, by creating a rotatingcontrol of the flow of air, such that one adsorption unit is alwaysregenerating while one is purifying in a upward flow and another ispurifying in a downward flow. This process results in a system in whichthe adsorption units require significantly less maintenance. Thepurified air leaving the downstream adsorption column is both directedto an outlet and to a regeneration source supply. The regenerationsupply of purified air is then directed to flow “backward” through theregenerating adsorption column. The adsorption column is heated creatingconditions for regeneration of the column under low pressure. There-contaminated air is then flowed out of the system through aregeneration vent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is an illustration of the prior art process of airpurification;

[0014]FIG. 2 is an illustration of the prior art process of separatinggases and recombining them;

[0015]FIG. 3 is the prior art process of pressure swing adsorptionmethod for air purification;

[0016]FIG. 4 is the prior art process of the membrane filtration processof air purification;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a container for the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a system diagram of an embodiment of the presentinvention in the inactive state;

[0019]FIG. 7 is a system diagram of the embodiment of the presentinvention in FIG. 6 with one purifier purifying in a first flowdirection (upstream), one purifying unit purifying unit in a second flowdirection (downstream) and one purifying unit inactive;

[0020]FIG. 8 is a system diagram of the embodiment of the presentinvention in FIG. 6 with one purifier purifying upstream, one purifyingunit purifying unit downstream and one purifying unit regenerating;

[0021]FIG. 9 is a sample flow/regeneration rotation cycle for adsorptionunits in an embodiment of the present invention with three purifyingunits;

[0022]FIG. 10 is a sample purifying unit as used in an embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0023]FIG. 11 is a sample oxygen catalyst unit used in an embodiment ofthe present invention.

GUIDE TO DEFINITIONS IN THE SPECIFICATION

[0024] The expressions “first flow direction” and “upstream” areinterchangeable and generally mean the flow of the adsorption column tothe oxygen catalyst unit, as are the expressions “second flow direction”and “downstream,” and indicate the flow of air from the oxygen catalystunit. As such, they describe the operation of the invention in apreferred embodiment and should not be considered limitations withregard to flow of air in an absolute direction, like upward, downward,west, away from the front etc., but are meant only to contrast thedirection flow of air in the different adsorption columns in relation tothe oxygen catalyst unit.

[0025] The expression “molecular sieve” is intended to apply to genericmolecular sieves, and where indicated a brand or type of molecular sievewill be noted.

[0026] The expression “purification unit” is a generic descriptive termfor the adsorption column unit as implemented in a preferred embodimentof the invention and is detailed below.

[0027] The expression “first flow connection” generally refers to theintake of an adsorption column, however, because there are multipledirectional flow capabilities of the adsorption units in the presentinvention in a preferred embodiment, a more generic expression is usedto denote this structure. Similarly, for the expression “second flowconnection,” is substituted for and would normally would refer to theoutflow on an adsorption column.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIGS. 1-4 were discussed above with reference to the prior art.FIG. 5 depicts a sample cabinet unit 10 for housing the presentinvention in a preferred embodiment. Referring now to FIG. 6, a detailof one of the embodiments of the present invention in an inactive stateis shown. The air purification system 100 is comprised of airpurification tubing 101, an inlet 102 and an outlet 104, and an optionalcompressor 104 and water trap 110. Also included are at least threetypes of adsorption column units 150(upstream-u), 150(downstream-d) and150(regen/s-r) A, 150(1), B 150(2) and C 150(3), which will be describedin detail below, but include a molecular sieve for removing impuritiesfrom air. For FIG. 6, column A 150(1) will adsorb upstream (150 u),column B 150(2) will adsorb downstream (150 d) and column C 150(3) willbe either in standby mode or regenerating (150 s) or (150 r). However,there are alternate embodiments where any of the columns can adsorbeither upstream, downstream, or regenerate, which will be described indetail below.

[0029] Also included in air purification system 100 is an oxygencatalyst unit 200, which will be described in detail below. The oxygencatalyst unit 200 is generally kept at approximately 300 degreescentigrade in a preferred embodiment, as that is a preferred temperaturefor changing CO and hydrocarbons into water and carbon dioxide. The airflow is controlled by a series of valves 115(n), which in a preferredembodiment are 4-way diverter valves and are connected to the tubing 101throughout the system 100. The invention also includes a regenerationair supply intake 180 and a regeneration air vent 182. As can beappreciated by those skilled in the art, other types of valves would beappropriate in relation to the particular installation of thepurification system 100.

[0030] Referring now to FIG. 7, a preferred embodiment of the airpurification system 100 in an “active” state is shown. Air is let inthrough an intake 102 and passed through an optional compressor 106 andthen a water trap 110. The water trap 110 will take air that is inlet atstandard humidity, i.e. 10-100% relative humidity, and product outletair that is generally less than 5000 ppm water vapor and is considered“semi-dry” air for the purposes of the present invention.

[0031] The “semi-dry” air, at approximately less than 5000 ppm watervapor, passes out of water trap 110. The dry air then enters a firstfour way diverter valve 115(1), which directs the flow of the“semi-dried” air to the first upstream adsorption column 150 u, whichcan be either adsorption column A 150(1), B 150(2) or C 150(3), but forpurposes of FIG. 7 is shown as the A adsorption column 150(1). Airpassing upstream through adsorption unit A 150(1) will have remainingmoisture and carbon dioxide and other impurities removed. The air thenpasses out of adsorption unit A 150(1) through 4-way diverter valve115(4) where it is directed to the oxygen catalyst unit 200. Drying theair before passing it through a first purification unit 150(1) has theeffect of extending the life of the purification unit.

[0032] The semi clean dry air is flowed through the oxygen catalyst 200,which converts hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide andwater. The air then passes out of the oxygen catalyst unit 200, andpasses to 4-way diverted valve 115(2) where it is directed to adsorptionunit B 150(2) 150(d) where it passes downstream and is purified for thenew carbon dioxide and water as well as NOX creating purified air. Theclean air passes through 4-way diverter valve 115(5) where it isdirected to the regeneration supply valve 180, however most of the airpasses through outlet flow 104. The third adsorption column 150(3)150(s/r) is inactive and receives no air flow.

[0033] Referring now to FIG. 8 a preferred embodiment of the inventionis shown in which the adsorption column units A 150(1) 150(r), B 150(2)150(d) and C 150(3) 150(u) each include a heating means 250(1), 250(2),and 250(3), respectively, and a cooling means 350(1), 350(2), and350(3), respectively. Such heating and cooling means may be provided inthe way of a thermal blanket of or gradient type heating or heatexchanging systems such as gas to gas air exchanger or gas to air heatexchanger. Such structures are well known by those skilled in the artand would reflect the environmental demands of the present invention asit was installed in a particular site and do not need to be detailedhere. In addition, FIG. 8 includes and optional control unit 500, andvalve operation unit 520, which may be comprised of solenoid valves in apreferred embodiment. Such control structures are generally well knownby those skilled in the art and a variety of electrical, mechanical andpneumatic control types would be appropriate based on the installationrequirement of the system.

[0034] The operation of system 100 is similar to that depicted in FIG.7. However, now semi-dried air passes from the water trap 110 to 4-waydiverted valve 115(3), where is enters adsorption column C 150(3)/150(u)for upstream purification. The air enters the column where it is cooledby cooling means 350(3) which are described above and is well known bythe those skilled in the air help facilitate gas purification in theadsorption column 150(3). Heating means 250(3) remains either inactiveduring upstream purification in a preferred embodiment or heats thesemi-purified gas as it exits in an alternate embodiment so that it canbe more easily heated for the oxygen catalyst unit 200.

[0035] The semi-purified air then enters 4-way diverter valve 115(6)where it is flowed to the oxygen catalyst unit 200, the operation ofwhich is detailed above. The oxygenated semi-purified air leave theoxygen catalyst unit 200 and flows to 4-way diverted valve 115(2) whereit is directed to adsorption column B 150(2)/150(d) for purifying in adownstream direction. The gas enters adsorption column B 150(2) where isit is cooled by cooling means 350(2) which facilitates purification ofthe remaining impurities. The air leaves the adsorption column150(2)/150(d) as purified air and is flowed to both the outlet 104 andthe regeneration supply 180.

[0036] Furthermore, in FIG. 8 purified air flows from the regenerationsupply 180 into 4-way diverter valve 115(4), where it passes throughadsorption unit A 150(1)/150(r) which has active heating unit 250(1)activated. The impurities stored in adsorption unit A 150(1) may bereleased into the purified air and exits through 4-way diverter valve115(1) and exits through the regeneration vent 182. The heating unit250(1) also facilitates thermal regeneration of the adsorption column150(1) independent of the purified air. In a preferred embodiment thepressure is adjusted in the regenerating column 150(1), in order tofacilitate regeneration. The processes of thermal regeneration ofadsorption columns are known to those skilled in the art and do not needto be detailed here.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 9, a scheduling schematic detailing thepurification, standby, and regeneration cycles through 7 sample timeperiods, of the present invention in a preferred operation is shown. Theoperation of the present invention requires that one column always bepurifying in the upstream mode (removing water, carbon dioxide, andother impurities) and one column is always purifying in a downstreammanner removing water, carbon dioxide and NOX. In a preferredembodiment, one adsorption column is always either being regenerated orin a standby mode preparing to purify. A column may go to standby modeafter regenerating before becoming active and replacing anotherpurifying unit.

[0038] In the table depicted in FIG. 9, at time 1, adsorption column A150(1) is purifying in the upstream mode, adsorption column B 150(2) ispurifying in downstream mode and adsorption column C 150(3) is in astandby mode. This state is depicted by the invention as represented byFIG. 7. At time period 2, column C 140, starts purifying air in anupstream manner and column A 150(1) starts regenerating, while column B150(2) continues purifying in a downstream manner. At time 3, column A150(1) goes to standby mode, column B 150(2) continues downstreampurifying and column C 150(3) continues upstream purifying. At time 4,column B 150(2) starts the regeneration process, while Column A 150(1)starts purifying in a downstream mode. The cycle continues until all ofthe adsorption columns have been regenerated.

[0039] As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the time periodsare representative of control cycles and do not represent any particulartime period. The time periods to be equal to each and the control cyclesof the present invention are shown for sample purposes only and willdepend on the environment of the invention.

[0040] Referring now to FIG. 10 a regenerable adsorption column 150(n),as would be implemented in a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. The adsorption column 150(n) includes an outer shell151 and an insulator 155. In a preferred embodiment, the outer shell ismade of 304 SST. The column also includes an intake of first flowconnection 152 and a large particle screen 154, which has approximatelya 0.05 inch opening in a preferred embodiment. Also included is a molesieve chamber 160, where a mole sieve 161 is housed. In a preferredembodiment, the molecular sieve 161 is one manufactured by Baylith, thespecification of which are available from the manufacturer and areincorporated by reference. Another sample molecular sieve 161 used in analternate embodiment of the present invention is UOP type WE-G 592, ofwhich the technical materials are incorporated by reference.

[0041] Also included in the adsorption column 150(n) are a primaryadsorption chamber 180 which holds an adsorber 181. The adsorber 181includes 5256 nickel catalyst by Englehard in a preferred embodiment,but may also include other adsorbers as will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art. The technical specifications of the 5256 nickelcatalyst are herein incorporated by reference. Also included in theregenerable adsorption column 150(n) are a second output screen 190,which is a 10 micrometer stainless steel filter by Mott in preferredembodiment, the details of which are available from the manufactured andare hereby incorporated by reference, and an outflow or second flowconnection 192.

[0042] Referring now to FIG. 11, an oxygen catalyst unit 200 as used inthe present invention is shown. The oxygen catalyst unit 200 is usuallykept at approximately 300 degrees centigrade for changing hydrocarbonsand carbon monoxide in the air flow received from the upstreamadsorption column 150(u) into carbon dioxide and water vapor. The oxygencatalyst unit 200 comprises air intake 212 and outflow 214 units,heating means 210 covering the unit 200. An intake screen 216 at the endof the air intake 212, with an opening of approximately 0.05″. The airexiting the oxygen catalyst at port 214 also passes through a filter of10 micrometer (10μ) sintered metal 230. The unit is covered by a shell201, which in a preferred embodiment is 304 stainless steel, but can bemade of other materials and surrounds a secondary layer 224, whichsurrounds the catalyst chamber 222. The oxidation catalyst 220 sits inthe chamber 222.

[0043] The oxidation catalyst 220 is usually made of a palladium (Pd) orplatinum (Pt) based catalyst and the technical specifications regardinga catalyst used in the preferred embodiment are incorporated herein byreference. One such catalyst is manufactured by Saes Getters of Milan,Italy, but as can appreciated by those skilled in the are may encompassseveral different types of catalysts.

[0044] The examples given in the specification are not meant to limitthe scope of the invention, which as can be appreciated by those skilledin the art, can have many different implementations and componentreplacement without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thesemay include, but are not limited to heating devices, cooling devices,valves, tubing, controllers, screens, molecular sieves, nickelcatalysts, oxygen catalysts, compressors, water traps, etc. The scope ofthe invention is better defined by considering the following claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:
 1. A process for thepurification of air, whereby the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen ismaintained, comprising the steps of: flowing air through a firstadsorption column in a first flow direction, whereby air issemi-purified; flowing said semi-purified air through an oxygencatalyst, wherein said oxygen catalyst includes either a palladiumcatalyst or a platinum catalyst, whereby hydrocarbons carbon monoxideare converted to carbon dioxide and water; flowing said oxygenatedsemi-purified air through a second adsorption column in a second flowdirection; whereby said oxygenated semi-purified air has the remainingimpurities removed, creating purified air.
 2. The process as recited inclaim 1, comprised of the additional step of removing a first portion ofwater from said air prior to said step of flowing air through a firstadsorption column, by flowing air through a water trap, wherebysemi-dried air results from said first portion of water removal step andsaid semi-dried air is less than 10,000 ppm of water vapor.
 3. Theprocess for purifying air as recited in claim 2, comprised of theadditional step of compressing air before performing said first waterremoving step.
 4. The process for purifying air as recited in claim 1,further comprised of flowing said purified air to both an outlet and toa third adsorption column, whereby said flow of air to said thirdadsorption column is a regenerative air supply.
 5. The process forpurifying air as recited in claim 4, further comprised of flowing saidregenerative air supply out of said third adsorption column and out anescape vent.
 6. The process for purifying air as recited in claim 4,further comprised of switching said first and said second flowdirections wherein at least one of said adsorption columns has no airflowing through it or has a flow of said regenerative air supply flowingthrough it and at least another of said adsorption columns hasoxygenated semi-purified air flowing through it in a second flowdirection.
 7. The process for purifying air as recited in claim 4,further comprised of heating said third adsorption column, whereby saidheating facilitates thermal regeneration in said third adsorptioncolumn.
 8. The process for purifying air as recited in claim 7, whereinsaid heating includes heating said regenerative air supply as it flowsthrough said third adsorption column.
 9. A process for the purificationof air, whereby the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen is maintained in saidair, comprising the steps of: a step for removing a first portion ofwater from said captured air, wherein semi-dried air results from saidremoval step, whereby said semi-dried air is less than 10,000 ppm ofwater vapor; flowing said semi-dried air through a first adsorptioncolumn in a first flow direction, whereby said dried air issemi-purified, wherein said flowing dried air through said firstadsorption column includes the removal of moisture and carbon dioxidesemi-purified air; flowing said semi-purified air through an oxygencatalyst, wherein hydrocarbons carbon monoxide in said semi-purified airare converted in carbon dioxide and water, whereby oxygenatedsemi-purified air results; flowing said oxygenated semi-purified airthrough a second adsorption column in a second flow direction; whereinsaid flowing through said second adsorption column includes removingremaining carbon dioxide, water and oxides of nitrogen from saidoxygenated semi-purified air, whereby creating purified air withcontaminants less than 10 parts per billion.
 10. The process forpurifying air as recited in claim 9, comprised of the additional step offlowing said purified air to both an outlet and to a third adsorptioncolumn, whereby said flowing purified air into said third adsorptioncolumn facilitates thermal regeneration.
 11. The process for purifyingaid as recited in claim 10, comprised of the additional step of flowingre-contaminated air out of said third adsorption column and out anescape vent.
 12. The process for purifying air as recited in claim 10,comprised of the additional step of switching said flow directions infirst adsorption column, said second adsorption column and said thirdadsorption columns, wherein, at any time, at least one of saidadsorption columns has no air flowing through it or has a flow ofpurified air flowing through it and at least one adsorption column hasoxygenated semi-purified air flowing through it and at least oneadsorption column has semi-dried air flowing through it.
 13. The processfor purifying air as recited in claim 9, wherein said step for removingwater is performed by a water trap.
 14. The process for purifying air asrecited in claim 9, wherein said flowing through first adsorption columnincludes cooling said semi-dried air, whereby the purification processin said first adsorption column is facilitated by said cooling.
 15. Theprocess for purifying air as recited in claim 9, wherein said flowingthrough second adsorption column includes cooling said oxygenatedsemi-dried air, whereby the purification process in said secondadsorption column is facilitated by said cooling.
 16. The process forpurifying air as recited in claim 9, wherein said flowing through anoxygen catalyst is performed with heating.
 17. The process for purifyingair as recited in claim 16, wherein said heating is performed with thetemperature between 200 and 400 degrees centigrade.
 18. A process forpurifying air including the steps of: during time interval T, flowingunpurified air through a first adsorption column, in a first flowdirection, resulting in a stream of semi-purified air; flowing saidsemi-purified air through a oxygen catalyst, resulting in oxygenatedsemi-purified air, and flowing said oxygenated semi-purified air througha second adsorption column in a second flow direction, wherein a thirdadsorption column has purified air flowing through it; during timeinterval, T+1 time unit, said third adsorption column has saidunpurified air flowing through it in a first flow direction, and saidfirst adsorption column receives purified air from a source which isconnected to said second adsorption column; and during time interval,T+2 time units, said first adsorption column has said oxygenatedsemi-purified air flowing through it in a second flow direction, andsaid second adsorption column has purified air flowing through it. 19.The process for purifying air as recited in claim 18, further comprisingthe act of: during time interval, T+3 time units, flowing unpurified airthrough a first adsorption column in a first flow direction resulting ina stream of semi-purified air; flowing said semi-purified air through aoxygen catalyst, resulting in oxygenated semi-purified air, and flowingsaid oxygenated semi-purified air through a second adsorption column ina second flow direction, wherein a third adsorption column has purifiedair flowing through it.
 20. The process for purifying air as recited inclaim 19, wherein in between time intervals T+2 time units and T+3 timeunits, said second adsorption column enters a standby mode where it doesnot receive a flow of air.
 21. The process for purifying air as recitedin claim 18, wherein in between time intervals T+1 time unit and T+2time units, said first adsorption column enters a standby mode where itdoes not receive a flow of air.
 22. The process for purifying air asrecited in claim 18, further comprised of the step of at time T, heatingsaid third adsorption column in order to facilitate thermalregeneration.
 23. The process for purifying air as recited in claim 18,wherein said heating said third adsorption column includes heating saidpurified air.
 24. The process for purifying air as recited in claim 18,wherein said time interval T is less than said time unit.
 25. An airpurification system, comprising: an air intake and an air outflow andtubing; a compressor connected to said air intake; a water trapconnected to said compressor, said water trap for removing water fromair; a set of more than one adsorption columns; and an oxygen catalystunit; wherein said air is passed through said tubing from said watertrap through a first of said set of adsorption columns, then passedthrough said oxygen catalyst unit, and then passed through a second ofsaid set of adsorption columns, and optionally, said air outflow. 26.The air purification system as recited in claim 25, wherein flowing saidair through said first of said set of adsorption columns at leastremoves water and carbon dioxide, wherein passing said air through saidoxygen catalyst unit changes hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide intocarbon dioxide and water, and passing said air through said second ofsaid set of adsorption columns removes at least carbon dioxide, waterand oxides of nitrogen.
 27. The air purification system as recited inclaim 25, further comprising a compressor, said compressor being forcompressing said intake air.
 28. The air purification system as recitedin claim 25, wherein at least of said set of adsorption columns includesa heating unit.
 29. The air purification system as recited in claim 28wherein said heating unit has a heating gradient.
 30. The airpurification system as recited in claim 25, wherein at least one of saidset of adsorption columns includes a cooling unit.
 31. The airpurification system as recited in claim 30, wherein said cooling unit isa gas to gas or a gas to air heat exchanger.
 32. The air purificationsystem as recited in claim 25, wherein at least one of said set ofadsorption columns includes an outer shell, a molecular sieve, a nickelcatalyst and a set of filters at both ends of said adsorption columnconnected to a first flow connection and a second flow connection,respectively.
 33. The air purification system as recited in claim 32,wherein said at least one adsorption column includes a cooling unit at afirst end, said first end in proximity to said first flow connection.34. The air purification system as recited in claim 32, wherein said atleast one adsorption column includes a heating unit at a second end,said heating unit in proximity to said second flow connection.
 35. Theair purification system as recited in claim 25, wherein said oxygencatalyst unit includes a large particle screen connected to a unit airintake, a oxidizing catalyst, and a sinter metal filter connected to anunit air outflow, and a heating means.
 36. The air purification systemas recited in claim 25, further comprised of a set of valves, saidvalves being for controlling said airflow.
 37. The air purificationsystem as recited in claim 36 wherein said set of valves includesfour-way diverter valves.
 38. The air purification system as recited inclaim 36, further comprising a valve control unit, said valve controlunit being for opening and closing said set of valves.
 39. The airpurification system as recited in claim 38, wherein said valve controlunit further comprises control means for directing the flow of airthrough said first adsorption column in a first flow direction, whereinsaid control means further comprises means for directing said flow ofair through said second adsorption column in a second flow direction,wherein said control means further comprises means for directing aregenerative flow of air from the outflow of said second adsorptioncolumn, wherein said regenerative flow of air is flowed through a thirdadsorption column.
 40. The system as recited in claim 25, furtherincluding a regeneration air supply.
 41. The air purification system asrecited in claim 25, further comprised of tubing for flowing saidpurified air from the output of said second of said set of adsorptioncolumns to a third of said set of adsorption columns, whereby said flowof purified air is a regenerative air supply.
 42. The air purificationsystem as recited in claim 41, wherein the system additionally comprisesa regeneration vent, wherein said regenerative air supply flows throughthird of said of set of adsorption column and exits out saidregeneration vent.
 43. The air purification system as recited in claim42, further comprising a heating unit, wherein said heating unitfacilitates thermal regeneration in said third adsorption unit.
 44. Theair purification system as recited in claim 25, wherein said set ofadsorption columns includes at least three columns, wherein during anytime said system is in operation; a third column of said set ofadsorption columns is regenerating, wherein said regeneration isfacilitated by flowing a regeneration supply of purified air throughsaid third adsorption column, wherein said third adsorption columnfurther includes a heating unit, wherein said heating facilitatesthermal regeneration.
 45. The system as recited in claim 25, furtherincluding a regeneration supply intake and regeneration vent, whereinall of said set of adsorption columns include a heating unit and can bethermally regenerated by heating.
 46. The air purification system asrecited in claim 25, wherein said set of adsorption columns includes atleast three columns, wherein during the process of purification, saidfirst column of said set of adsorption columns is purifying in a firstflow direction, whereby said first flow direction purifying is for atleast removing oxides of nitrogen from air.
 47. The air purificationsystem as recited in claim 25, wherein said set of adsorption columnsincludes at least three columns, wherein during the process ofpurification, said second column of said set of adsorption columns ispurifying in a second flow direction, whereby said second flow directionis for at least removing water vapor, carbon dioxides and oxides ofnitrogen from air.
 48. The system as recited in claim 25, wherein saidoxygen catalyst unit is maintained at approximately 300 degreescentigrade.
 49. The system as recited in claim 25, wherein said oxygencatalyst unit includes an catalyst comprising palladium.
 50. The systemas recited in claim 25, wherein said oxygen catalyst unit includes ancatalyst comprising platinum.
 51. The system as recited in claim 25,wherein one of said set of adsorption columns includes a Nickelcatalyst.
 52. The system as recited in claim 51, wherein said nickelcatalyst is #5256 Nickel Catalyst.
 53. The system as recited in claim25, wherein one of said set of adsorption columns includes a molecularsieve.
 54. The system as recited in claim 53, wherein said molecularsieve is manufactured by BAYLITH®.
 55. The system as recited in claim53, wherein said molecular sieve is UOP® WE-G
 592. 56. An airpurification system, comprising: an air intake and air outflow andtubing; a compressor connected to said air intake; a water trapconnected to said compressor, said water trap being for removing waterfrom said air; a set of more than one adsorption columns, wherein saidair is passed through said tubing from said water trap before beingpassed though a first of said set of adsorption columns, whereby thelife of said first adsorption column is extended.
 57. The apparatus asrecited in claim 56, wherein said adsorption unit comprises: a firstflow connection; a large particle screen connected to said first flowconnection, a molecular sieve, a nickel catalyst, a sintered metalfilter which is connected to a second flow connection.
 58. The apparatusas recited in claim 57, wherein the molecular sieve includes UOP typeWE-G 592 or said molecular sieve is manufactured by BAYLITH.
 59. Theapparatus as recited in claim 56, further comprised of an oxygencatalyst unit, said oxygen catalyst unit including a catalyst includingon of the following group: platinum or palladium.
 60. An airpurification system comprising: tubing; said tubing for directing a flowof air; a set of more than one adsorption columns; a unit including anoxygen catalyst; wherein said air flows through said tubing to a firstof said set of adsorption columns and flows from said first adsorptioncolumn to said oxygen catalyst unit, and flows from said oxygen catalystunit to a second of said set of adsorption columns.
 61. The airpurification system as recited in claim 60, wherein said set of one ormore adsorption columns includes heating means.
 62. The air purificationsystem as recited in claim 60, wherein said set of one or moreadsorption columns includes cooling means.
 63. An air purificationsystem as recited in claim 60, wherein said set of adsorption columnsincludes at least three columns, wherein during the process ofpurification, a third column of said set of adsorption columns isthermally regenerating.
 64. The air purification system as recited inclaim 63, wherein during the process of purification, said first columnof said set of adsorption columns is purifying in a upstream, wherebysaid upstream purifying being for removing impurities from air.
 65. Theair purification system as recited in claim 64, wherein during theprocess of purification, said second column of said set of adsorptioncolumns is purifying downstream, whereby said downstream purifying beingfor removing impurities from air.
 66. The system as recited in claim 65,further including a regeneration air supply, said regeneration airsupply for providing purified air, such that said purified air issupplied to said thermally regenerating third adsorption column.
 67. Themethod for purifying air as recited in claim 9, further comprised of thestep of compressing captured air prior to said water-removing step. 68.A method for extending the life of an adsorption column containing amolecular sieve and a sintered nickel catalyst, comprised of dryingcompressed air with a water trap and then flowing said dried compressedair through said adsorption column.
 69. A method for extending the lifeof an oxygen catalyst unit, said oxygen catalyst unit including acatalyst comprising either palladium or platinum, and used in theprocess of purifying air, including the steps of removing water from airwith a water trap creating dried air and then removing impurities formsaid dried air by use of a unit including a molecular sieve and a nickelcatalyst before flowing air through said oxygen catalyst unit.